Middle East Crisis
News, analysis, and background on the Israel-Hamas war and regional conflict between Israel and Iran and its proxies.

Meet the New Middle East, Same as the Old Middle East
Everything has changed in the region, and nothing is different.

Hezbollah Is Weak Enough for Lebanon to Finally Disarm It
The government and army are taking back their own country.

Israel Escalates War Against Hamas With Doha Strike
Qatar decried the strike as a violation of international law.

The Next Israel-Iran War Is Coming
Both countries’ strategic calculus suggests it will be even more violent.
Israel-Hamas War

What Was the Tipping Point on Gaza?
After almost two years of war, Israel is feeling the growing weight of governmental opprobrium.

Israel Isn’t a Hegemon Yet, But It’s Now a Revisionist Power
Netanyahu is seeking to remake the Middle East by force.

Why Israel’s War in Gaza Has Been So Deadly for Journalists
Israel is directly targeting media workers, rights groups warn.

Why Recognizing Palestine Is Meaningless or Even Harmful
Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada are mostly performative.
Iran-Israel Tensions

There’s More Than One Way to Build a Bomb
Iran doesn’t need to rebuild its damaged facilities to sprint for a nuclear weapon.

Iran’s Collapse Could Cause a Nuclear Security Nightmare
Washington would struggle to secure dangerous materials, technologies, and expertise.

Iran Is Islamism’s Last Lifeline in the Middle East
Without support from a weakened Tehran, the region’s extremist movements would wither.

What the War Changed Inside Iran
The regime has been pushed to the edge of strategic pivot.
Israel and Hezbollah

Hezbollah Is Trying to Spin Loss as Victory
Assad’s fall and Israel’s offensive give Lebanese a chance to reclaim their country.

Lebanon’s Demining Mission Faces Aid Uncertainty
Cuts to foreign assistance and a fragile cease-fire have made the urgent work more dangerous.

Lebanon’s Success Depends on Sidelining Hezbollah
The new government in Beirut is the country’s best chance for reform in years—but support from Washington and Riyadh will be crucial.

Washington Has One Chance to Help Disarm Hezbollah
As Lebanon moves to confront the country’s most dangerous militia, U.S. support will be vital.
Regional Dynamics

In the Middle East, a Cold War Redux?
China and the U.S. are competing for influence in the troubled region.

Ankara’s New Syrian Headache
Toppling Assad didn’t solve Turkey’s problems—it made them worse.

How Israel’s Strikes on the Houthis Will Change Yemen
For years, the group has relied on the perception that it is untouchable.

Qué Sharaa, Sharaa
With concrete steps, Washington can keep Syria’s future on track.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Why the Oslo Peace Process Failed
And what it means for future negotiators.

The Palestinian Leader Who Survived the Death of Palestine
What would it mean for Hussein al-Sheikh to lead a people whose dream of independence is no longer alive?

How Will This War End? How Can the Next One be Prevented?
FP asks experts two questions about the fighting between Israelis and Palestinians.

All the Palestinians Got From Oslo Was KFC
Thirty years of the peace process has left us with less land and fewer rights.
Latest Stories

Rapid U.S. Action Could Break the Cycle of Violence in Gaza
Washington must take creative and daring steps to mitigate human suffering and plant the seeds for a post-Hamas future.

Will Gaza Ever Have Elections Again?
Palestinian democracy is battered—but potentially resilient.

The West Is Losing Muslim Liberals
Indifference to Palestinian suffering in Gaza is alienating moderates across the Islamic world and tarnishing the appeal of liberal democratic values.

Biden’s New Plan for the Middle East Is More of the Same
A revised doctrine offers little hope for change.

The Devastation of Gaza Was Inevitable
Urban warfare has always been brutal for civilians—and the war against Hamas was destined to be an extreme case.

Is Biden’s Gaza Policy Alienating Black Voters?
Washington’s handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict appears to be hurting the president’s credibility among African Americans.

Biden’s Grand Bargain to Remake the Middle East
The election-year gamble is a long shot.

Destroying Gaza’s Health Care System Is a War Crime
The ICC should prosecute Israelis responsible for bombing hospitals, denying access to medicines and vaccines, and causing excessive civilian harm.

Is Netanyahu Cornered?
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister faces the test of his political life.

The Two-State Solution Is a Recipe for Carnage
Washington’s favorite prescription for Israeli-Palestinian peace risks unleashing a wave of interethnic violence unseen since the partition of India and Pakistan.

Biden Walks a Fine Line With Airstrikes on Iran-Backed Militants
The U.S. hit more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria—but not Iran itself.

Men Alone Cannot Build a Durable Peace in the Middle East
Israeli and Palestinian women’s organizations have a rich history of political engagement.

How China Is Leveraging the Israel-Hamas War
The growing divide between Washington and the global south is playing out in Beijing’s favor.

The End of Prosperity in Israel
For decades, the quality of life had been rising for most Israelis—until Oct. 7.

Retribution in the Israel-Hamas War
On the role of atrocities and their retelling in identitarian conflict.

What Does Latin America Think About the Israel-Hamas War?
Many countries are spurning Israel. But the region’s Middle East stance has always been nuanced.